<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Riddims &amp; Raps</title><description>Zimbabwe&apos;s #1 plug for hip-hop, dancehall, and urban culture. From Harare to Bulawayo.</description><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/</link><language>en</language><item><title>MCY Ghost: The Upcoming Voice Calling Out Zim Music’s Gatekeepers</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/mcy-ghost-the-upcoming-voice-calling-out-zim-musics-gatekeepers/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/mcy-ghost-the-upcoming-voice-calling-out-zim-musics-gatekeepers/</guid><description>In a game where many artists are busy chasing trends, upcoming Zimbabwean artist MCY Ghost is stepping into the ring with smoke in his lungs and something to say. Currently promoting his latest single Gangster, a track he openly describes a</description><pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 16:20:37 GMT</pubDate><category>hash-hiphop</category><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>The &quot;Mid-card&quot; Trap: A Review of Bling 4&apos;s Majeso (Kinda.)</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/the-mid-card-trap-a-review-of-bling-4s-majeso-kinda/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/the-mid-card-trap-a-review-of-bling-4s-majeso-kinda/</guid><description>There has been a growing discourse around the importance of what has been termed the “mid-card” in music scenes. The argument goes thus: while every genre will inevitably have its front-and-center flagbearers, flagbearers do not a genre mak</description><pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 16:49:41 GMT</pubDate><author>Shingi Mavima</author></item><item><title>AI as Artistic Exigency?- The Curious case of Maskiri’s “Madam Mombeshora.”</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/ai-as-artistic-exigency-the-case-of-maskiris-madam-mombeshora/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/ai-as-artistic-exigency-the-case-of-maskiris-madam-mombeshora/</guid><description>A week ago, the right Reverend Alishas weMaskiri uploaded the video of his 2004 classic joint, Madam Mombeshora to YouTube. You don’t remember the song having a video? My apologies: he uploaded A video. It is AI. In those six days, the vide</description><pubDate>Wed, 13 May 2026 12:06:28 GMT</pubDate><author>Shingi Mavima</author></item><item><title>Readings on Zimbabwean Music (AKA &quot;We Know when ZimDancehall Started- and it Wasn&apos;t With You.&quot;)</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/readings-on-zimbabwean-music-aka-we-know-when-zimdancehall-started-and-it-wasnt-with-you/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/readings-on-zimbabwean-music-aka-we-know-when-zimdancehall-started-and-it-wasnt-with-you/</guid><description>So, Chillspot invented ZimDancehall —again. Yawn. By now, the blatant ragebait of a false narrative that resurfaces every couple of years is as much a part of the lore of the genre as the very foundation of the genre itself. I won’t spend a</description><pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 09:08:18 GMT</pubDate><author>Shingi Mavima</author></item><item><title>Voltz JT Looks for a Reset at Unplugged 2026 as Takunda Wins the New “Next Superstar” Slot</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/voltz-jt-looks-for-a-reset-at-unplugged-2026-as-takunda-wins-the-new-next-superstar-slot/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/voltz-jt-looks-for-a-reset-at-unplugged-2026-as-takunda-wins-the-new-next-superstar-slot/</guid><description>When Unplugged Zimbabwe returns to First Capital Bank Sports Club in Harare on 28 March 2026, the festival will again bring together a mix of international and local talent for one of the country’s most established live music platforms. The</description><pubDate>Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:50:51 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>The East is Rising: A Review of Flexxo&apos;s &apos;Shiripiti&apos; Album (Kinda.)</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/the-east-is-rising-a-review-of-flexos-shiripiti-album-kinda-2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/the-east-is-rising-a-review-of-flexos-shiripiti-album-kinda-2/</guid><description>It’s bigger than the greater Harare area. Or at least it has to be. That the mainstream hip-hop scene in Zimbabwe tends to be Harare-centric is hardly a controversial statement. Thought exercise: off the top of your head, name the ten most </description><pubDate>Sun, 08 Mar 2026 06:18:38 GMT</pubDate><author>Shingi Mavima</author></item><item><title>Winky D&apos;s AI Video</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/winky-ds-ai-video/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/winky-ds-ai-video/</guid><description>Growing up, I loved Woody Allen.</description><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:30:58 GMT</pubDate><category>riddims-and-raps</category><category>hash-zimdancehall</category><category>hash-hiphop</category><category>failed-rapper</category><category>hash-malcommufunde</category><author>Malcom Mufunde</author></item><item><title>Tha Bees Breaks Character and Gets Real on ‘Unmasked’, His Boldest Release Yet</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/tha-bees-breaks-character-and-gets-real-on-unmasked-his-boldest-release-yet/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/tha-bees-breaks-character-and-gets-real-on-unmasked-his-boldest-release-yet/</guid><description>In a growing Zimbabwean hiphop scene filled with rising voices, Tha Bees continues to carve out his own lane raw, reflective, and rooted in lived experience. His latest project, Unmasked, extends that trajectory, offering a blend of trap en</description><pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2026 06:31:11 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>The “Kupera” Fallacy: The Problem with Our Toxic Obsession with Artists Being “Finished.”</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/the-kupera-fallacy-the-problem-with-our-toxic-obsession-with-artists-being-finished/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/the-kupera-fallacy-the-problem-with-our-toxic-obsession-with-artists-being-finished/</guid><description>(These ruminations bear their origins in a piece that originally dropped on a different platform two years ago; yet due to continued relevance, we have had to run it back- with some not-insignificant updates.) A few years ago, following the</description><pubDate>Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:59:19 GMT</pubDate><author>Shingi Mavima</author></item><item><title>Love Freakquency EP Review: A Soundtrack for Modern Relationships</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/love-freakquency-ep-review-a-soundtrack-for-modern-relationships-2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/love-freakquency-ep-review-a-soundtrack-for-modern-relationships-2/</guid><description>Notice the EP title? Love Freakquency. That pretty much sums up how I felt listening to this project from start to finish. Each track feels like a different emotional wave highs, lows, confusion, desire which honestly mirrors how modern-day</description><pubDate>Sat, 14 Feb 2026 06:32:53 GMT</pubDate><author>Rejoice Phiri</author></item><item><title>The Greatest Zimbabwean Rapper of All Time</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/the-greatest-zimbabwean-rapper-of-all-time/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/the-greatest-zimbabwean-rapper-of-all-time/</guid><description>Let me begin by apologising to the RayKaz fans, all six of you.</description><pubDate>Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:19:13 GMT</pubDate><category>riddims-and-raps</category><category>hash-hiphop</category><category>failed-rapper</category><category>hash-malcommufunde</category><author>Malcom Mufunde</author></item><item><title>ZimHipHop People’s Choice Runna Rulez Drops New Song Spoon ft Voltz JT</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/zimhiphop-peoples-choice-runna-rulez-drops-new-song-spoon-ft-voltz-jt/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/zimhiphop-peoples-choice-runna-rulez-drops-new-song-spoon-ft-voltz-jt/</guid><description>Runna Rulez didn’t just win the People’s Choice Award — he’s visibly living up to it. This wasn’t a sympathy vote. It was recognition of momentum. Runna has been working. You don’t even need to go looking for his music — TikTok will find yo</description><pubDate>Fri, 23 Jan 2026 07:16:42 GMT</pubDate><author>Rejoice Phiri</author></item><item><title>My Gorgeous Wife’s Favourite Songs of 2025</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/my-gorgeous-wifes-favourite-songs-of-2025/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/my-gorgeous-wifes-favourite-songs-of-2025/</guid><description>I finally left Zimbabwe for good.</description><pubDate>Thu, 22 Jan 2026 09:30:26 GMT</pubDate><category>riddims-and-raps</category><category>hash-zimdancehall</category><category>hash-hiphop</category><category>failed-rapper</category><category>hash-malcommufunde</category><author>Malcom Mufunde</author></item><item><title>Straight Outta Highfield: Mally AP Emerges as a Talent to Watch</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/straight-outta-highfield-mally-ap-emerges-as-a-talent-to-watch/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/straight-outta-highfield-mally-ap-emerges-as-a-talent-to-watch/</guid><description>It’s been a minute since the streets last introduced fresh voices with real hunger, and Mally AP is one name steadily earning his stripes in Zimbabwe’s hip hop space. Hailing from the vibrant streets of Highfield (Fiyo), Mally AP is a ZimHi</description><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 10:13:44 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>First Ever ZimDancehall Weekly Planner Published</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/first-ever-zimdancehall-weekly-planner-published/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/first-ever-zimdancehall-weekly-planner-published/</guid><description>(December 19, 2025.) Team keeps winning. A weekly planner and journal, featuring nuggets of wisdom drawn from ZimDancehall songs, has just been published and is now on Amazon. The planner, the first one of its kind, is the brainchild of U.S</description><pubDate>Tue, 06 Jan 2026 09:49:19 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>A Moment in Song: &apos;Unovashungurudza’ by Jah Signal &amp; Nicholas Zakaria&quot; (#RIPMadzibaba)</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/a-moment-in-song-unovashungurudza-by-jah-signal-nicholas-zakaria-ripmadzibaba/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/a-moment-in-song-unovashungurudza-by-jah-signal-nicholas-zakaria-ripmadzibaba/</guid><description>It’s bigger than Riddims and Rap. Rest in Peace to Madzibaba Nicholas “Senior Lecturer” Zakaria, who passed away last week at the age of 69. Or perhaps it’s not bigger than Riddims and Rap. Perhaps it —the passing of one of the most iconic </description><pubDate>Wed, 24 Dec 2025 06:55:00 GMT</pubDate><author>Shingi Mavima</author></item><item><title>Dennis Got Married</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/dennis-got-married/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/dennis-got-married/</guid><description>On the 18th of October 2025, Dennis got married.</description><pubDate>Thu, 18 Dec 2025 09:04:57 GMT</pubDate><category>riddims-and-raps</category><category>hash-zimdancehall</category><category>hash-hiphop</category><category>hash-afrobeat</category><category>failed-rapper</category><category>hash-malcommufunde</category><author>Malcom Mufunde</author></item><item><title>The Culture Circles Back: Unplugged’s Revival Hits Different</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/the-culture-circles-back-unpluggeds-revival-hits-different-2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/the-culture-circles-back-unpluggeds-revival-hits-different-2/</guid><description>2025 has been quite the eventful year on the Zimbabwe entertainment scene. Several events have come out with some high-quality and diverse options for the countries festival and live show goers. Over the years different events have sprung u</description><pubDate>Fri, 05 Dec 2025 09:52:20 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>Saintfloew Set to Drop Gunda: A Landmark Moment for Zimbabwean Hip Hop</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/saintfloew-set-to-drop-gunda-a-landmark-moment-for-zimbabwean-hip-hop-2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/saintfloew-set-to-drop-gunda-a-landmark-moment-for-zimbabwean-hip-hop-2/</guid><description>Zimbabwean hip hop is preparing for another defining moment as Saintfloew readies the release of his highly anticipated album Gunda, his third collaborative project with Tinashe Mutarisi’s Nash TV. Their partnership has consistently pushed </description><pubDate>Wed, 26 Nov 2025 13:43:58 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>Zim Hip Hop Awards 2025: Full List of Nominees Announced</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/zim-hip-hop-awards-2025-full-list-of-nominees-announced-2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/zim-hip-hop-awards-2025-full-list-of-nominees-announced-2/</guid><description>The wait is over. The Zim Hip Hop Awards (ZHHA) 2025 nominations have officially been announced, spotlighting the artists, producers, and creatives who shaped Zimbabwean hip hop over the past year. The list features both rising stars and es</description><pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2025 09:59:16 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>Do Albums Still Matter? (A Review of Delroy Shewe&apos;s &quot;Peace of Mind&quot;- Kinda)</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/do-albums-still-matter-a-review-of-delroy-shewes-peace-of-mind-kinda-d/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/do-albums-still-matter-a-review-of-delroy-shewes-peace-of-mind-kinda-d/</guid><description>Does the album still matter? Before the pitchforks start bearing down upon me, let me be clear; I worship, and continue to worship, upon the altar of albums. I believe to craft an episodic tale, consistent yet so distinct in sound, and carr</description><pubDate>Sat, 15 Nov 2025 01:08:12 GMT</pubDate><author>Shingi Mavima</author></item><item><title>Artists With Wild Names</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/artists-with-wild-names/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/artists-with-wild-names/</guid><description>If you’ve somehow stumbled onto my writing for the first time — hi, my name is Malcom Mufunde.</description><pubDate>Thu, 06 Nov 2025 07:48:53 GMT</pubDate><category>riddims-and-raps</category><category>hash-zimdancehall</category><category>hash-hiphop</category><category>failed-rapper</category><category>hash-malcommufunde</category><author>Malcom Mufunde</author></item><item><title>Zim Hip Hop Awards Return for Their 15th Edition Under the Theme “Cultural Estate”</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/zim-hip-hop-awards-return-for-their-15th-edition-under-the-theme-cultural-estate/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/zim-hip-hop-awards-return-for-their-15th-edition-under-the-theme-cultural-estate/</guid><description>Harare, Zimbabwe — The Zimbabwe Hip Hop Awards (ZHHA) are officially back for their landmark 15th edition, set to take place on December 12, 2025, at Zimbali Gardens in Greendale, Harare. Brought to you by Liquor Supplies, this year’s event</description><pubDate>Fri, 31 Oct 2025 10:50:57 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>A-Reece Live in Zimbabwe for the First Time</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/a-reece-live-in-zimbabwe-for-the-first-time/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/a-reece-live-in-zimbabwe-for-the-first-time/</guid><description>I know, I know — I should be leading with Zim hip-hop. And yes, Saintfloew will be representing us tomorrow at Culture Fest. Glad to see the brother back on his feet after being reportedly unwell (and no, it wasn’t a stunt — close sources c</description><pubDate>Sat, 18 Oct 2025 08:47:51 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>It was MuSalala vs the Nation — and MuSalala Won (The &quot;Rhaka Rhaka&quot; Review- Kinda)</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/it-was-musalala-vs-the-nation-and-musalala-won-the-rhaka-rhaka-review-kinda/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/it-was-musalala-vs-the-nation-and-musalala-won-the-rhaka-rhaka-review-kinda/</guid><description>You had to be there. 2002 was the year that I almost died. I have almost died several times since then, but that was the first next-to-the-reaper experience I remember, and still remains the most significant. It was that Easter/Independence</description><pubDate>Wed, 08 Oct 2025 23:35:22 GMT</pubDate><author>Shingi Mavima</author></item><item><title>Wicknell or Mutarisi?</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/wicknell-or-mutarisi/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/wicknell-or-mutarisi/</guid><description>I like to believe people who read this blog are sharp.</description><pubDate>Sun, 05 Oct 2025 08:47:08 GMT</pubDate><category>riddims-and-raps</category><category>hash-zimdancehall</category><category>hash-hiphop</category><category>failed-rapper</category><category>hash-malcommufunde</category><author>Malcom Mufunde</author></item><item><title>Next Up: Yadis Talks Ndakusasa &amp; Shoko Fest</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/next-up-yadis-talks-ndakusasa-shoko-fest/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/next-up-yadis-talks-ndakusasa-shoko-fest/</guid><description>She’s young, she’s fearless and she’s making serious noise on the come-up. Yadis has been building her lane and word on the streets is she’s got her eyes locked on that ZimHipHop Award this year. We caught up with her to chop it up about he</description><pubDate>Wed, 01 Oct 2025 13:06:13 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>Zim Hip Hop Awards Open Nominations for 15th Edition</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/zim-hip-hop-awards-open-nominations-for-15th-edition/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/zim-hip-hop-awards-open-nominations-for-15th-edition/</guid><description>The Zimbabwe Hip Hop Awards (ZHHA) have officially opened their nomination submission portal for the 2025 edition, marking a historic milestone as the awards celebrate 15 years of recognizing and celebrating excellence in hip hop culture. L</description><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2025 07:53:46 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>‘Locker Mastreets’ Is the Greatest Song Ever</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/locker-mastreets-is-the-greatest-song-ever/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/locker-mastreets-is-the-greatest-song-ever/</guid><description>Working on a tobacco farm is hell. It’s one of the very few jobs I’ve ever been offered and flat-out refused.</description><pubDate>Thu, 11 Sep 2025 11:33:49 GMT</pubDate><category>riddims-and-raps</category><category>hash-zimdancehall</category><category>hash-hiphop</category><category>failed-rapper</category><category>hash-malcommufunde</category><author>Malcom Mufunde</author></item><item><title>Verses That Deserve Jail Time</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/verses-that-deserve-jail-time/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/verses-that-deserve-jail-time/</guid><description>Before we start, can I please address something that’s been eating away at my soul? I can? Thank you.</description><pubDate>Thu, 04 Sep 2025 07:33:45 GMT</pubDate><category>riddims-and-raps</category><category>failed-rapper</category><category>hash-malcommufunde</category><author>Malcom Mufunde</author></item><item><title>Mic in One Hand, Fire in the Other: Flash Twentyeight Crosses Over with Chitungwiza Heat</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/mic-in-one-hand-fire-in-the-other-flash-twentyeight-crosses-over-with-chitungwiza-heat/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/mic-in-one-hand-fire-in-the-other-flash-twentyeight-crosses-over-with-chitungwiza-heat/</guid><description>By SpekkTrumn If you’ve been paying attention to Zimbabwe’s urban music scene, you’ll know that Chitungwiza isn’t just a location (or Zimbabwe&apos;s third most populated city) ; it’s a movement. From the people&apos;s champion Voltz JT, the Trap Sun</description><pubDate>Wed, 03 Sep 2025 14:08:36 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>Shuzeff Entertainment: Building Hip Hop From the Ground Up in Waterfalls, Harare</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/shuzeff-entertainment-building-hip-hop-from-the-ground-up-in-waterfalls-harare-2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/shuzeff-entertainment-building-hip-hop-from-the-ground-up-in-waterfalls-harare-2/</guid><description>In the backstreets of Houghton Park and Waterfalls, a quiet grind has been taking place for years. Shuzeff Entertainment, an independent hip hop label run by two determined artists, Prince Kudzie and Big Muzzy is proving that consistency, e</description><pubDate>Fri, 22 Aug 2025 13:46:41 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>&apos;Tarantino&apos;- A Kae Chaps Spectacle in Three Acts.</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/tarantino-a-kae-chaps-spectacle-in-three-acts-2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/tarantino-a-kae-chaps-spectacle-in-three-acts-2/</guid><description>By Shingi Mavima The &quot;Lockdown Class&quot; are coming of age nicely, aren&apos;t they? I refer here to the cohort of artists who either emerged, or had been bubbling under the surface but reached new levels of prominence, during the COVID-ravaged sea</description><pubDate>Wed, 20 Aug 2025 10:13:12 GMT</pubDate><author>Shingi Mavima</author></item><item><title>Guti Razor – Gratitude Wave: Hustle Chants, Campfire Chemistry, and a Few Sharp Left Turns</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/guti-razor-gratitude-rave-hustle-chants-campfire-chemistry-and-a-few-sharp-left-turns/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/guti-razor-gratitude-rave-hustle-chants-campfire-chemistry-and-a-few-sharp-left-turns/</guid><description>Riddims And Raps Earlier this year, Guti Razor dropped Gratitude Wave. No hype roll-out, no city-wide billboards — just the music and the belief that if it’s good, it’ll speak for itself. But sometimes, the streets take a minute to catch on</description><pubDate>Wed, 20 Aug 2025 08:55:18 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>&apos;Ngoma Ndaimba&apos; Is Not A Classic</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/ngoma-ndaimba-is-not-a-classic/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/ngoma-ndaimba-is-not-a-classic/</guid><description>Unless someone’s copied and pasted this onto a scammy WhatsApp group, you’re currently reading this on Riddims &amp; Raps.</description><pubDate>Thu, 14 Aug 2025 08:32:57 GMT</pubDate><category>riddims-and-raps</category><category>hash-zimdancehall</category><category>failed-rapper</category><category>hash-malcommufunde</category><author>Malcom Mufunde</author></item><item><title>Holy Ten vs Voltz JT</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/holy-ten-vs-voltz-jt/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/holy-ten-vs-voltz-jt/</guid><description>Recently, I asked my followers on Twitter (as anyone with honor still calls it) to hit me with head-to-head artist matchups</description><pubDate>Thu, 07 Aug 2025 06:12:12 GMT</pubDate><category>riddims-and-raps</category><category>hash-hiphop</category><category>failed-rapper</category><category>hash-malcommufunde</category><author>Malcom Mufunde</author></item><item><title>The 20 Greatest Zim Hip-Hop Songs of All Time</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/the-20-greatest-zim-hip-hop-songs-of-all-time-2/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/the-20-greatest-zim-hip-hop-songs-of-all-time-2/</guid><description>This list started the way most important things do: with a dumb argument between me and Dez from work.</description><pubDate>Thu, 31 Jul 2025 08:43:09 GMT</pubDate><category>failed-rapper</category><author>Malcom Mufunde</author></item><item><title>A Moment in Song: Munodonhedza Musika</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/a-moment-in-song-munodonhedza-musika/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/a-moment-in-song-munodonhedza-musika/</guid><description>If all goes well, this is the first in a series: songs that present author has come across and deemed their existence and story worthy of a deep contextual dive—from the vantage point of the casual listener. For no ceremonially significant </description><pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:21:13 GMT</pubDate><author>Shingi Mavima</author></item><item><title>Love Wave: Guti Razor’s Mixtape Marries Romance and Realness</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/love-wave-guti-razors-mixtape-marries-romance-and-realness/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/love-wave-guti-razors-mixtape-marries-romance-and-realness/</guid><description>Born in Ethiopia and raised in Zimbabwe, hip hop artist Guti Razor is about to make a heartfelt splash with Love Wave, a 9-track mixtape that plays like a love letter—equal parts tender and tough. Slated for release on Friday, July 18, this</description><pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2025 04:58:01 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>Shoko Festival 2025 Celebrates 15 Years of Urban Culture with Zim Hip Hop &amp; Dancehall Firepower</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/shoko-festival-2025-celebrates-15-years-of-urban-culture-with-zim-hip-hop-dancehall-firepower/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/shoko-festival-2025-celebrates-15-years-of-urban-culture-with-zim-hip-hop-dancehall-firepower/</guid><description>Shoko Festival is back for its 15th edition, running from 25–27 September 2025, and it’s setting the stage for a powerful celebration of Zim Hip Hop, dancehall, and the creative spirit that’s shaped Zimbabwe’s urban culture. Running under t</description><pubDate>Tue, 08 Jul 2025 09:47:22 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>Meta Shoko: It’s Time to Rethink the Underground in Zim Hip Hop</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/meta-shoko-its-time-to-rethink-the-underground-in-zim-hip-hop/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/meta-shoko-its-time-to-rethink-the-underground-in-zim-hip-hop/</guid><description>Opening Prayer: I pray against the spirit of opposing things I know to be true because I want to seem like a purist, Amen 🙏🏾 With the year already halfway through and still no undisputed runaway Album of the Year, it feels like the perfec</description><pubDate>Sat, 31 May 2025 07:11:12 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>Mlue Jay: Less Talk, More Legacy – Catching Up with Zim Hip Hop’s Most Consistent Hustler</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/mlue-jay-less-talk-more-legacy-catching-up-with-zim-hip-hops-most-consistent-hustler/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/mlue-jay-less-talk-more-legacy-catching-up-with-zim-hip-hops-most-consistent-hustler/</guid><description>If there’s one artist we can call family here at Riddims and Raps, it’s Mlue Jay. Our conversations have always been real—no fluff, no filters. This time was no different. I caught up with the Johannesburg-based rapper to talk music, father</description><pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2025 09:53:34 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>Runna Rulez Has the Music, But the Stage Keeps Exposing Him</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/runna-rulez-has-the-music-but-the-stage-keeps-exposing-him/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/runna-rulez-has-the-music-but-the-stage-keeps-exposing-him/</guid><description>Disclaimer, the editor is a fan of Runna Rulez music, the likes of Bhomba NeFleece, Ngirozi, Boyz Rangu, Zvirikwese I can f go on and on but something bothers me and listeners who attend the shows. There’s something frustrating about watchi</description><pubDate>Tue, 29 Apr 2025 09:41:56 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>Bhanshee Breaks Silence With &apos;I Am&apos;: A Debut EP That Speaks Loud and Clear</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/bhanshee-breaks-silence-with-i-am-a-debut-ep-that-speaks-loud-and-clear/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/bhanshee-breaks-silence-with-i-am-a-debut-ep-that-speaks-loud-and-clear/</guid><description>In a scene where bravado often drowns out vulnerability, Bhanshee enters with something most artists dodge—truth. Her upcoming debut EP &quot;I Am&quot;, dropping May 8th, isn&apos;t just a collection of tracks—it’s a personal manifesto wrapped in beats a</description><pubDate>Wed, 23 Apr 2025 09:48:40 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>The Accursed Genre: Defending ZimDancehall (Again)</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/the-accursed-genre-defending-zimdancehall-again/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/the-accursed-genre-defending-zimdancehall-again/</guid><description>So, we are doing this again. Five years ago, to the month, I wrote a piece for another platform, pushing back against the fatalistic voices proclaiming the death of ZimDancehall. It was not my first time putting my rep on the line for mango</description><pubDate>Sat, 19 Apr 2025 16:51:35 GMT</pubDate><author>Shingi Mavima</author></item><item><title>Miss Ebony Zimbabwe: A Celebration of Beauty, Culture, and Empowerment</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/miss-ebony-zimbabwe-a-celebration-of-beauty-culture-and-empowerment/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/miss-ebony-zimbabwe-a-celebration-of-beauty-culture-and-empowerment/</guid><description>Editorial Note: Music as a Pillar of Cultural Expression At Riddims and Raps, we recognize that music is more than entertainment—it is the heartbeat of culture. Whether it&apos;s the pulsating rhythms of dancehall, the storytelling of hip hop, o</description><pubDate>Thu, 27 Mar 2025 07:55:40 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>On Our Radar: Teriro Blends Afro-Fusion with Global Appeal in ‘Sugacane’</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/on-our-radar-teriro-blends-afro-fusion-with-global-appeal-in-sugacane/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/on-our-radar-teriro-blends-afro-fusion-with-global-appeal-in-sugacane/</guid><description>At Riddims and Raps, we champion hip hop and dancehall, but our radar is always open to artists making waves across the broader soundscape—especially those with ties to these cultures. Enter Teriro, a London-based Zimbabwean afro-fusion art</description><pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2025 13:35:20 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>Riddims, Raps and Melodies at Calisomnia Chills</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/riddims-raps-and-melodies-at-calisomnia-chills/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/riddims-raps-and-melodies-at-calisomnia-chills/</guid><description>The art space has started 2025 on a high note, with inter-genre concerts showcasing a growing wave of youth-driven synergy. On March 29, Calisomnia Chills returns to Moto Republik with Riddims, Raps &amp; Melodies, an event set to amplify Zimba</description><pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2025 08:31:50 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>Soul Jah Love: Too Good To Be
Forgotten</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/soul-jah-love-too-good-to-beforgotten/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/soul-jah-love-too-good-to-beforgotten/</guid><description>By Lennon Mudzengerere I hate writing about Soul Jah Love. Every time I put pen to paper with the intention of writing about the best chanter to ever get a chance to hold a microphone on Zimbabwean soil, I am often overwhelmed by tears. Thi</description><pubDate>Fri, 14 Mar 2025 06:32:20 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item><item><title>Are Off Centre Dept releasing music faster than we can listen?</title><link>https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/are-off-centre-dept-releasing-music-faster-than-we-can-listen/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">https://v2.riddimsandraps.com/are-off-centre-dept-releasing-music-faster-than-we-can-listen/</guid><description>By Farai Mudzingwa I have to start by acknowledging that I’m a big believer in quantity over quality. In fact, I hold the belief that quantity precedes quality and that constantly working (and publishing) the stuff that you work on as an ar</description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Mar 2025 08:09:40 GMT</pubDate><author>Takudzwa Kadzura</author></item></channel></rss>